Apocalypse Baby Read Online Free Page A
Author: Virginie Despentes
service, she recruits call girls for officials, she has ultrasecret information about ex-French Africa, she speaks Russian fluently and gets on fine with Putin, sheâs on a mission to rescue hostages in Turkestan, sheâs trafficking on behalf of South American countries, sheâs spying on the Scientologists, sheâs involved with synthetic medicines imported from Asia, the big agro-industrial firms have hired her to defend their interests, nuclear power holds no secrets for her, sheâs protected by radical Islamists, sheâs got a house in Switzerland, she often travels to Israel⦠But the stories all agree on one point: sheâs never been sentenced in any court, because her files are too explosive for her not to be covered in any circumstances. And itâs a fact that over the past five years, when lawsuits and trials have mushroomed, no legal practice has boasted of having her as a client. She hasnât worked for any single outfit for a long time now, but her name crops up â occasioning scorn, admiration, anger or amusement â whenever people are looking for something vaguely sensational to talk about.
I watch the door out of the corner of my eye, with growing nervousness. I repeat over and over the sentences of introduction that Iâve prepared. I keep telling myself for reassurance that she canât have done a tenth of the things people say, and that in times of economic crisis, five thousand euros cash bonus is a sum worth discussing. At regular intervals, Cro-Mag asks me if I want anything else, I refuse, and he shuts his eyes and nods several times, a mysterious smile floating across his face, all meaning, I presume, that sheâll be along soon, you have to be patient, sheâs no doubt on some top-level mission. The bar has filled up, a hoarse-voiced malesinger is croaking something out of the speakers, Iâll never understand the appeal of that kind of music, youâd think you were on a building site. Suddenly Cro-Magâs face lights up, and the Hyena is right beside me. Very tall, hollow cheeks, Ray-Bans, menâs style, a figure-hugging white leather jacket, she must think sheâs a film star. Cro-Mag points towards me, and she holds out her hand.
âLucie? You wanted to see me?â She doesnât take the glasses off, doesnât smile, and doesnât give me time to say anything. âFive minutes if you donât mind? Iâve got to say hello to some friends, then Iâll be back.â
Seen close up, she doesnât look at all like the mythical person Iâve heard so much about. I wait, while conscientiously sipping my half-glass of beer, clench my teeth, and tell myself that even if this is a ridiculous attempt, it wonât kill me to have made the effort.
âShall we sit down over there? Itâll be quieter to talk.â
She goes ahead of me, confident and casual, her legs are long and slender in her tight-fitting white jeans, sheâs fashionably slim, a body that tends to vanish and carries clothes well. I feel like Iâm short and fat, my jumper is damp with nervous sweat, I realize my hands are shaking, and I reckon Iâm lucky not to fall on my face as we go over there. She sits down facing me, arms draped over the back of her chair, legs apart, as if sheâs trying to take up the maximum of space with the minimum of body mass. I collect my wits and wonder how to begin. She takes her shades off at last, and gives me a long cool look up and down. She has very big dark eyes and an expressive face, lined like an old Indian womanâs.
âI work for the Reldanch agency.â
âYeah, Cro-Mag told me.â
âIâve sort of specialized in checking up on minors.â
âOn to a good thing there, I gather.â
âYes, itâs one of our best lines. Iâve been tailing this girl, sheâs fifteen, and I lost her, in the metro, the morning before yesterday on her way
I watch the door out of the corner of my eye, with growing nervousness. I repeat over and over the sentences of introduction that Iâve prepared. I keep telling myself for reassurance that she canât have done a tenth of the things people say, and that in times of economic crisis, five thousand euros cash bonus is a sum worth discussing. At regular intervals, Cro-Mag asks me if I want anything else, I refuse, and he shuts his eyes and nods several times, a mysterious smile floating across his face, all meaning, I presume, that sheâll be along soon, you have to be patient, sheâs no doubt on some top-level mission. The bar has filled up, a hoarse-voiced malesinger is croaking something out of the speakers, Iâll never understand the appeal of that kind of music, youâd think you were on a building site. Suddenly Cro-Magâs face lights up, and the Hyena is right beside me. Very tall, hollow cheeks, Ray-Bans, menâs style, a figure-hugging white leather jacket, she must think sheâs a film star. Cro-Mag points towards me, and she holds out her hand.
âLucie? You wanted to see me?â She doesnât take the glasses off, doesnât smile, and doesnât give me time to say anything. âFive minutes if you donât mind? Iâve got to say hello to some friends, then Iâll be back.â
Seen close up, she doesnât look at all like the mythical person Iâve heard so much about. I wait, while conscientiously sipping my half-glass of beer, clench my teeth, and tell myself that even if this is a ridiculous attempt, it wonât kill me to have made the effort.
âShall we sit down over there? Itâll be quieter to talk.â
She goes ahead of me, confident and casual, her legs are long and slender in her tight-fitting white jeans, sheâs fashionably slim, a body that tends to vanish and carries clothes well. I feel like Iâm short and fat, my jumper is damp with nervous sweat, I realize my hands are shaking, and I reckon Iâm lucky not to fall on my face as we go over there. She sits down facing me, arms draped over the back of her chair, legs apart, as if sheâs trying to take up the maximum of space with the minimum of body mass. I collect my wits and wonder how to begin. She takes her shades off at last, and gives me a long cool look up and down. She has very big dark eyes and an expressive face, lined like an old Indian womanâs.
âI work for the Reldanch agency.â
âYeah, Cro-Mag told me.â
âIâve sort of specialized in checking up on minors.â
âOn to a good thing there, I gather.â
âYes, itâs one of our best lines. Iâve been tailing this girl, sheâs fifteen, and I lost her, in the metro, the morning before yesterday on her way
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